Toolstation NCEL Division One
Hallam 0-3 Glasshoughton Welfare
Reece Horn scored his first ever goal in senior football in Glasshoughton’s 3-0 win at Hallam
Red hot Glasshoughton Welfare pulled off an outstanding victory at Hallam – their fourth consecutive win.
Although the result sounds resounding the Welfare defence were made to work very hard for the win, and indeed they did with great performances from Andrew McManus, Adam Walsh,,Louis Akeister, and in particular goalkeeper Matuesz Zaniewski who pulled of three fantastic saves in the first half. This was also a third successive clean sheet for the Welfare defence.
Alex Marsh was instrumental in the win with two fine free kicks leading to Welfare goals.
The game opened in difficult conditions and both goalkeepers, Zaniewski and Andrew Sneath found the greasy ball hard to catch on a wet pitch.
In the early minutes Sneath did well to save an effort from Andy Horbury whilst at the other end Tom Roebuck hit an effort just over the Welfare crossbar.
Conor Glavin hit the post for Welfare when Sneath dropped a cross and the keeper did well second later to claw a effort over the bar.
Sam Fewkes then hit an 18 yard shot that Zaniewski palmed away
Zaniewski then struggled to hold a cross but recovered to save well for a corner from which he again blocked an effort with his body. From another corner home striker Mitchell Dunn somehow headed over the bar when stood on the Welfare goal line.
Welfare took the lead on 31 minutes when McManus got his head onto the end of a Marsh free kick and he headed over Sneath into the net.
In added time of the first half Zaniewski produced a brilliant save to tip away a James Read drive.
The home side opened the second half on top and Zaniewski did well to tip a dangerous cross ball away. Then a combination of the keeper and McManus blocked a shot for a corner. Chris Wood hit an effort just over the bar and another effort from the home side clipped the Welfare crossbar.
Welfare had a glorious chance to increase the lead when Sneath dropped the ball at the feet of Horbury but he hit the chance over the bar from two yards.
The home side were not out of it and Zaniewski had to be alert a number of times to handle the ball well as they looked for an equaliser in the closing stages.
Welfare increased their lead on 78 minutes when another great Marsh free kick was headed home at the far post by Horbury and then. on 89 minutes, Horbury put substitute Reece Horn through and the young under 19s player from last season shot under Sneath to score his first goal in senior football.
What They Said
Glasshoughton Welfare joint manager Darren Holmes
“An outstanding result at Hallam which is always a difficult place.. The lads, to a man, worked tirelessly for 90 minutes and defended in numbers. We scored with chances at key points. Matt, in goal had a busy first half and showed his worth today. The conditions were horrible but we stuck to the game plan and got what we deserved. We can now look forward to our first midweek without a game for sometime and we go again next Saturday.”
The Team
Hallam: Sneath, Wright (Greaves), Tootle, Roebuck,, McCarthy, Griffiths, Ord, Read, Wood ,Fewkes (Saxon), Dunn. Sub unused: Chappell.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Zaniewski, Marsh, Cunliffe, Hunter, McManus, Walsh, Ferguson (Horn) Akeister, Horbury, Glavin (Poskitt), Wilshire. Sub unused: Harrison.
Thanks to Garry Mollon for this report.